The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius, 2011 (PG-13)

with Jean Dujardin (Little White Lies), Bérénice Bejo (Le Passé - The Past), John Goodman (The Monuments Men, Monsters University, Flight, Trouble with the Curve, Argo, The Emperor's New Groove (Kuzco), You Don't Know Jack, The Princess and The Frog), James Cromwell (Surrogates), Penelope Ann Miller, Missi Pyle (Galaxy Quest), Beth Grant, Ed Lauter, Joel Murray (Monsters University), Bitsie Tulloch, Ken Davitian (Get Smart), Malcolm McDowell

This modern-day silent film artfully recounts the poignant end of the silent-movie era in the late 1920s. The story contrasts the declining fortunes of a silent-screen superstar with his lover's rise to popularity as a darling of the "talkies."

It took a long time for me to watch it. In the meantime, I saw how successful it has become, the Golden Globes, the Oscars, many more awards along the way, the intense campaign the producers, filmmaker and actors had to do, including the dog. I guess in a way, it was all part of the same show. I finally watched the movie, which is entertaining, funny, overacted just enough for us to get the idea, with very fast reading subtitles from time to time it took me to press pause to actually be able to read it... I was told Berenice Bejo ("Meilleur Espoir Feminin") wasn't as good as Jean Dujardin, but I have to disagree. The cast is impeccable with John Goodman and James Cromwell looking in their element, Berenice Bejo really cute and inspired, but Jean Dujardin is the same old, same old. I could see Brice De Nice, the characters of "Toutes les filles sont folles", "OSS117"... Exuberant... I know by now he can be cast for more dramatic characters, he is actually a great actor, but this felt like the easy way... Anyway, still a very refreshing movie, which great ideas and twists for our entertainment.

Watch Trailer:

Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon) by Georges Méliès, 1902

with Georges Méliès, Victor André and Bleuette Bernon

A group of men travel to the moon by being shot in a capsule from a giant cannon. They are captured by moon-men, escape, and return to the earth. Soundtrack by Air.

I watched a documentary on Georges Méliès and the creation of the movie, the reconstitution of the shooting and restauration of the film (Le Voyage extraordinaire by Serge Bromberg, Eric Lange, 2011). Very interesting, talking about cinema and technology, a true lesson. The documentary was followed by Le Voyage dans la Lune, in its fullest version, with original soundtrack by Air. I was expecting better, for some reason. Because of the extract I had already seen in the documentary, but mostly because I really like Air and felt they had done the job half way. Anyway, still a masterpiece.
Ok, coming back to it, the story is a little bit surreal, naive in a way, but it was made 110 years ago, so our vision of the trip to space has definitely changed. It is fascinating how the special effect were ingenious. I saw it colorized from the original version, it is another trip to take. How meticulous this was. And the final effect is quite convincing!
By the way, for those who wonder, yes, it is about the Georges Méliès of "Hugo"!